Water, Environmental, and Energy Solutions (WEES)

In November of 2000, Arizona voters made a 20-year commitment to stimulate innovation and research and to support Arizona’s knowledge-based economy. The landmark passage of Proposition 301, a 0.6% sales tax to be used for education in Arizona, included a new University-directed funding source, the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF), which has been used to catalyze research and technology transfer at Arizona’s academic institutions. University of Arizona TRIF initiatives include: "Water, Environmental, and Energy Solutions," "Improving Health," "Space Exploration and Optical Solutions," and "National Security Systems."

The Water, Environmental and Energy Solutions (WEES) initiative invests TRIF dollars in cutting-edge research, cross-campus collaborations, and innovative partnerships that promote fresh ideas, technologies, and effective resource management practices.